Beneath the surface, early-stage founders are finding it harder than ever to raise capital. The bar has been raised significantly. Venture capitalists have tightened their criteria, and many are only writing checks when a company can show real traction—often in the form of seven-figure ARR—even at the seed stage.

Gone are the days when a compelling vision and an impressive founding team were enough. Today, you need a go-to-market strategy that doesn’t just look good on paper—it needs to work in the market.

We’re in an environment where capital efficiency is king. Investors want to see revenue growth, not just user growth. They want to see repeatable, scalable sales motions—not just promising pilots. It’s no longer about being “pre-revenue but promising”—it’s about proving the machine works, even if it’s still early.

And then there’s the “valley of death”—that tricky stage between seed and Series A where many founders fall. They’ve raised just enough capital to get moving, but not enough to hit the metrics needed for a bigger round. Meanwhile, they’re being asked to prove what used to be Series A-level results on a seed-stage budget.

So what can founders do?

1. Start with GTM from Day One
Your go-to-market strategy needs to be more than a slide in your pitch deck. It should outline real channels, tested messaging, and predictable sales outcomes.

2. Focus on Revenue-Centric Milestones
Build your roadmap around milestones that prove customer demand and revenue potential. Traction will beat theory every time.

3. Embrace Capital Discipline
Show that you know how to do more with less. Investors are looking for signs that you understand how to build a business, not just a product.

4. Be Prepared for a Longer Fundraise
Assume it will take more time and more proof to raise funding. Build that runway into your plan.

How Health Tech Giant Slayer Helps Founders Win in Today’s Market

1. Start with GTM from Day One
Investors don’t fund potential—they fund proof. That starts with a repeatable, measurable go-to-market process. In my book, I break down how to align your “why,” your ICP (ideal customer profile), and your buying process into a strategy your team can actually execute. It’s not theory—it’s a series of interconnected systems.

2. Focus on Revenue-Centric Milestones
Most startups guess their way into revenue. The 5 Stones system gives you a clear blueprint to build pipeline, forecast predictably, and close performance gaps. You’ll learn how to use “the three whys” and a target buying experience to accelerate decisions and create urgency that drives real, measurable revenue growth.

3. Embrace Capital Discipline
You can’t afford randomness. The framework in Health Tech Giant Slayer focuses on operational clarity: what to measure, how to coach, and how to make informed pivots. It’s not about spending more—it’s about investing smarter in what works, using a proven sequence:

Process → Pipeline → Predictability → Performance → People

4. Be Prepared for a Longer Fundraise

Founders must show momentum. The book offers practical tactics for building a qualified pipeline, leveraging omnichannel outreach, and creating buyer-engaged experiences that differentiate your startup from well-funded incumbents. Investors will see a founder with a playbook—not just a pitch.

The New Reality of Startup Funding

We’re in a new era of startup funding—one where the game is tougher, but the fundamentals matter more than ever. Founders who can demonstrate clear revenue growth, market demand, and GTM execution will still win. But the bar is higher, and the climb is steeper.

Whether you’re navigating the “valley of death” or trying to prove traction in a tough market, the tools in Health Tech Giant Slayer give you more than just a fighting chance—they give you a path to sustainable, scalable growth.

Your product might be the slingshot.

This book helps you find the right stone.